3 arrested after boat chase, shooting in southwest Miami-Dade

1 injured in police-involved shooting

WEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. - Three men were arrested Thursday after police said they led officers on a boat chase that ended in a police-involved shooting in west Miami-Dade.

It happened near Southwest 74th Avenue and 8th Street about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

A Miami-Dade police officer heard gunshots outside his house. When more police responded to the scene, they reported seeing three men riding in a boat down a nearby canal.

The small black boat was seen flying a skull and crossbones pirate flag.

"Don't know what the mentality was, or what it was they were doing out here," said Miami-Dade Police Lt. Rosanna Cordero-Stutz.

Marked units drove along the canal while the boat tried speeding away. Then, police said the men starting shooting.

"These individuals were shooting at officers that were driving along the road. This is all a residential neighborhood that this occurred in," said Cordero-Stutz. "They were putting the community in grave danger by shooting at the officers in such a manner. Our officers did return fire."

As the men neared Southwest 112th Avenue and 65th Street, they pulled the boat onto the banks.

Police took the men into custody. Detectives found three weapons, gas cans, and a duffel bag in the boat.

Police said one of the men was possibly grazed by a bullet in the shooting. No officers were injured.

So far, no charges have been filed.

Miami-Dade County has been involved in 18 police-involved shootings so far this year. The department had 18 police-involved shootings in 2011.

"Every shooting and every circumstance is different," said Maj. Nancy Perez. "We are being shot at more frequently lately than we were last year... There's always that unknown -- that's the scary unknown."

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